Comparison

Play700 vs Merge Explorer

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Play700

Control robot kits using your smartphone with simple programming. This app offers features for vision detection, displaying information, multimedia playback, and sensor input.

Highlights
  • Robot control via smartphone
  • Simple programming interface
  • Vision detection (face, color, motion, line)
  • Display image, shape, character, number
  • Multimedia playback (voice, audio, video)
  • Sensor input (shaking, gradient, illumination)
Features
Read full description

Applicaton 'R+ Play700' can use smart phone utility such as sensor, image processing with camera, video and audio or more. You can control robot kit by using smart phone with simple programming. Currently, It supports 4 kinds of robot sample in Play 700, 1 stage. [Main Function] 1. Vision It supports face, color, motion and line detection. 2. Display It supports image, shape, character, number displaying. 3. Multimedia It supports function of voice output(TTS), voice input, play audio or video. 4. Sensor It supports function which relate with shaking, gradient, illumination or other several senses. 5. etc. It supports for using messenger receiving, vibration, email sending. # roboplus Play700, R+ Play700

About

Merge Explorer

Explore over 100 interactive science simulations using a smartphone and a Merge Cube. Investigate volcanoes, sharks, the solar system, and more with hands-on activities and quizzes. Ideal for K-8 students learning science at school or home.

Highlights
  • Over 100 science simulations
  • Interactive Merge Cube experiences
  • Hands-on learning activities
  • Built-in quizzes
  • NGSS-aligned K-8 curriculum
  • Physical, Life, and Earth/Space Science topics
Features
Read full description

PLEASE NOTE: This app requires a Merge Cube and a smartphone or a tablet to experience. Find out how to get a Merge Cube and learn more at: https://www.MergeCube.com. Students can learn science effectively with over 100 science simulations they can touch, hold and interact with! Merge Explorer (along with a Merge Cube) allows students to investigate a smoking volcano in the palm of their hand, examine a great white shark up close, hold and explore the solar system, dissect a frog (humanely!), and so much more. With easy-to-follow activities and built-in quizzes, students gain key knowledge while immersed in learning, both in the classroom or while remote learning at home. Merge Explorer includes NGSS-aligned topics for K-8th grade, like Physical Science, Life Science, and Earth & Space Science. If you have any questions or suggestions, we want to hear from you! Contact us at any time at support@mergeedu.com. Privacy Policy: https://MergeEdu.com/privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://MergeEdu.com/terms-of-use

Screenshots

Play7004 screens
Merge Explorer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Merge Explorer at 4.1 against Play700's 3.0. Merge Explorer also leads on ratings volume (279 vs 5) and update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months). Play700's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Merge Explorer sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Play700 asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Merge Explorer holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Merge Explorer has 279 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Play700 ships an update every 2 months, Merge Explorer monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Play700 versus Merge Explorer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPlay700Merge Explorer
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (5 ratings)4.1 (279 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—46.2% of reviews
Number of ratings5279 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size14 MB1.3 GB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperROBOTIS CO., LTD.Merge Apps

Customer experience

Play700

All ratings5 ratings
Positive40.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative40.0%

Merge Explorer

All ratings279 ratings
Positive76.3%
Neutral7.2%
Negative16.5%
Written reviews65 reviews
Positive46.2%
Neutral10.8%
Negative43.1%

Bugs and requests

Play700

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Merge Explorer

Reported bugs

13 issues
  • App crashes on iPad
  • App crashes when pressing play
  • Camera not working in app
  • Black screen when using cube or camera
  • VR function broken
Show 8 more
  • VR doesn't work with iPhone XS Max
  • App crashes or loads forever
  • Problems with galactic explore
  • App has trouble recognizing the cube
  • Screen recording only records cube, not overlay
  • Words appear sideways in horizontal mode
  • Content appears incorrectly
  • App crashes

Requested features

9 requests
  • Make the app free to play
  • Add more fun things, not just learning
  • Bring back the fun apps (time bomb, block courses)
  • Allow users to create their own games for the merge cube
  • Add a way to reset quizzes for class sets of devices
Show 4 more
  • Improve functionality for remote teaching, including screen recording
  • Add more content in the future
  • Add dark mode option
  • Add advanced analytics dashboard

In-app purchases

None

Play700

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Merge Explorer

Subscriptions4
  • Merge EDU Individual14 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Explorer Premium Monthly14 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Merge EDU Individual14 Days trial$99.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Explorer Premium Annual14 Days trial$99.991 Year

Questions

Is Play700 free?
Play700 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Merge Explorer free?
Merge Explorer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Play700 or Merge Explorer?
Merge Explorer is rated higher. Play700 averages 3.0 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Merge Explorer averages 4.1 from 279 ratings.
Do Play700 or Merge Explorer have ads?
Neither Play700 nor Merge Explorer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Play700 or Merge Explorer?
Play700 ships an update every 2 months, and Merge Explorer monthly. Most recently, Play700 was updated on November 2, 2026 and Merge Explorer on November 11, 2026.

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